JUMPERS (12A)

Adapted from the novel by Steven Gould, Jumper is a special effects heavy, science fiction adventure about a young man blessed with the ability to teleport anywhere on the globe.

Hopping through space and time sounds like a dream: no more rush-hour commute, jump to the front of any queue, hit the beach without the exhausting flights and beat the January sales hordes to the best bargains.

Unfortunately, this gift comes at a price: you'll be hunted for the rest of your life by Samuel L Jackson with a shocking white hair-do, and be immortalised in Doug Liman's poorly conceived and executed film.

Perhaps waiting in line with everyone else isn't so bad after all - as long as it's not to buy tickets for Jumper.

Abandoned by his mother Mary (Lane) at the age of five, teenager David Rice (Thieriot) is raised by his angry, hard-drinking father (Rooker).

The boy's affection for school friend Millie (Robb) is the one glimmer of light in a world of sadness and confusion; other than that, he is totally alone... until a near-death incident on a frozen lake unlocks his ability to jump.

Using his powers to borrow' money from banks so that he can buy an apartment in New York, David (now played by Christensen) glides through life without a care in the world.

Little does he realise that a secret organisation called Paladins is tracking his every move, and that one agent, Roland (L Jackson), intends to kill David at the first opportunity.

Jumper is fatally flawed by design. Every time the Paladins get close, David can simply teleport to another location, precluding even the faint stirrings of dramatic tension.

The big twist, which tees up a cliffhanger finale and a potential sequel, is telegraphed verbally well in advance. It takes a good hour for David to see what is staring him in the face.

TWO STARS